The Indiana Municipal Power Agency plans an eighth Richmond solar park, this one along U.S. 40 west of the city limits. IMPA submitted paperwork requesting relief from zoning standards about fence heights to install a 7-foot-high fence with another foot of barbed wire at the top. The request is similar to the fencing allowed at […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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Richmond man deemed ‘dangerous’ 2 days before allegedly shooting neighbor
Two days before a Richmond man allegedly shot a neighbor, a Wayne County judge ruled him a dangerous person and decided a confiscated gun should not be returned. Charles R. Adams, 81, of the 2100 block of Flatley Road was wounded by Indiana State Police gunfire late May 4 after a nearly nine-hour standoff. Adams […]
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Fire experience: ‘It’s been horrible’
Talisha Spicher’s family has experienced breathing problems, coughs, sore throats and headaches since returning to their Linden Court home after Richmond’s plastics fire. Still, she had one main objective when attending an April 25 informational session at Fairview Elementary School. “We want to know if the soil is safe for our kids,” said Spicher, who […]
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County to extend syringe program
Wayne County’s syringe exchange program will apparently continue for another two years. County commissioners established support April 26 to extend the program that began in August 2016; however, Ron Cross, the county’s attorney, will draft a resolution before commissioners take their final vote. Christine Stinson, executive director of the Wayne County Health Department, presented April […]
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RFD contract provides 3% raise
Richmond’s firefighters will receive a 3% salary increase with their new two-year contract. The raise will be split with 1.5% this year and 1.5%, non-compounding, in 2024, according to the contract approved April 27 by the city’s Board of Public Works and Safety. The contract — and the raise makes the base firefighter salary $53,279.90 […]
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Lawsuit alleges ‘blatant disregard’ for residents’ safety and welfare
The billowing black smoke from an April 11 plastics fire triggered an evacuation order that forced residents from their homes and closed businesses. A class-action lawsuit claims residents have experienced physical problems and emotional distress because of the fire at a North West F Street plastics recycling and resale business. It seeks compensatory and punitive […]
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The shared costs of blighted properties
Mayor Dave Snow made one point “crystal clear,” as he said, when speaking about the conundrum the city faced with plastics-filled properties on North West F Street that were a known fire hazard: Taxpayers would not pay the multimillion-dollar cleanup tab. The city had been working with Seth Smith, the owner of Cornerstone Trading Group, […]
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Long-term health effects from plastics fire unlikely
The thick, black smoke from the April 11 plastics fire in Richmond looked ominous, and it definitely carried toxic material from the burning plastic. There were many unknowns about the air quality at the time; however, constant Environmental Protection Agency testing for more than a week has left health officials confident the burning plastics won’t […]
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Jail health care costs, staff levels rise
Wayne County will spend extra money on health care for people in the Wayne County jail. Council approved 5-2 during the April 19 council/commissioners workshop to pay an additional $206,776 for increased health care staffing. Council members Tony Gillam and Bob Chamness voted against the additional expenditure. Quality Correctional Care had already been selected to […]
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EDC sees investment momentum
The Richmond Redevelopment Commission has agreed to contribute $900,000 to assist a new rail-served transloading, processing and warehousing project. Valerie Shaffer, president of the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County, updated Wayne County’s commissioners about EDC activities during their April 19 morning meeting. Project Thomas, reported on in the April 12, 2023 Western Wayne News, […]